May 25, 2023 • 37 mins
Join Kyle McMahon for a star-studded episode of Pop Culture Weekly as he hits the red carpet at the Chicago premiere of About My Father. He chats with the cast, including Robert De Niro, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Kim Cattrall, as well as Anders Holm, director Laura Terruso and David Rasche about the long hours on set and the excitement surrounding the premiere.
Before the red carpet, Kyle dives into the powerful themes of The Starling Girl with star Eliza Scanlen and writer-director Laurel Parmet. Set in rural Kentucky, this film explores a young woman's journey within a fundamentalist Christian community. They discuss the importance of compassionate storytelling, and how the themes of power dynamics and religion resonate in today's cultural climate. They also delve into the complexities of power dynamics in The Starling Girl, examining the nuanced portrayals of characters Gem and Owen within a patriarchal backdrop. Eliza Scanlon shares her experiences as an actor and the emotional weight of the story. So, buckle up and join us for this incredible episode of Pop Culture Weekly for all the latest in movies, TV, music, and pop culture!
Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/
---------------
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Before the red carpet, Kyle dives into the powerful themes of The Starling Girl with star Eliza Scanlen and writer-director Laurel Parmet. Set in rural Kentucky, this film explores a young woman's journey within a fundamentalist Christian community. They discuss the importance of compassionate storytelling, and how the themes of power dynamics and religion resonate in today's cultural climate. They also delve into the complexities of power dynamics in The Starling Girl, examining the nuanced portrayals of characters Gem and Owen within a patriarchal backdrop. Eliza Scanlon shares her experiences as an actor and the emotional weight of the story. So, buckle up and join us for this incredible episode of Pop Culture Weekly for all the latest in movies, TV, music, and pop culture!
Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/
---------------
Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at: https://podcast.popcultureweekly.com
Watch celebrity interviews at: https://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon/videos
or Kyle McMahon YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/officialkylemcmahon
Read the latest at http://www.PopCultureWeekly.com
Follow Kyle on:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kmacmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kmacmusic
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/officialkylemcmahon
Website: http://www.kylemcmahon.me
Pop Culture Weekly twitter: http://www.twitter.com/popculturepodca
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
On this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, I am live in Chicago for the
premiere of About My Father and Italked to the cast on the red carpet,
including Robert de Niro and Sebastian Manascalco. And then I'm in the studio
talking to Eliza Scanlon, who starsin The Starling Girl and writer director Laura
Paramit talks all about The Starling Girl. Let's go Welcome to pop Culture Weekly
(00:25):
with Kyle McMahon from my Heart Radio. You are pop culture news, views,
reviews and celebrity interviews on all themovies, TV music and pop culture
UKRABE Weekly. Here's Kyle McMahon.All right, I'm so excited. I
am here live in Chicago for thepremiere of About My Father's starring Sebastian Manascalco
(00:53):
and Robert de Niro and give Controland at mean, it's just an amazing
cast. Can't wait to see thefilm again. I saw it already and
it is hysterical and sweet and funny, obviously hysterically funny. It's just I
can't say enough about this movie.It is really really good and it's one
(01:15):
you gotta see. So we're gonnahave some interviews with some of the film's
stars coming up. But first letme tell you about this film that I
saw called The Starling Girl. Itis an amazing film. It's from writer
director Laurel Palmit, and it's aboutthis girl, seventeen year old girl Jim,
(01:38):
who kind of struggles to find herplace in this fundamentalist Christian community.
It takes place in you know,rural Kentucky, and she's a big dancer
with the church group and then shestarts to struggle with what she you know,
(01:59):
wonders maybe sin and and her ownsexuality and if she's devoted enough to
religion, her religion. It's really, really, really an amazing film.
It stars Eliza Scanlon as Jem Starling, who does an incredible, incredible job
(02:21):
in this role as Jem. Itreally is an amazing film that you've got
to see. So let's start outwith the interviews from that. Let's talk
to writer director Laul Parmett first.Up here we go. So the film
is incredibly powerful and I love Ithink it's coming out an interesting time.
(02:44):
In my opinion, there seems tobe in a lot of ways a kind
of reckoning for um for so manyrelationships that have uneven power dynamics, you
know, kind of starting thankfully withthe me too movement, kind of bringing
to light you know, a lotof abusive power dynamics and uh and churches
(03:09):
and on and on. What drewyou to this story? You know,
why was it important for you totell? So? Um? Yeah,
I have a personal connection to thestory. Um. When I was a
teenager, I had a relationship orwhatever, I don't know what to call
(03:30):
it, uh with an older manand um, you know, didn't see
myself as a victim at the time, and um, so then I was.
I found myself a few years laterin a Christian fundamentalist church with a
group of women from a patriarchal churchdoing research for a different project, and
(03:51):
I learned about their beliefs. Youknow. I learned that they believed that
it was a woman's responsibility to notlead a man into temptation, and basically
that you know, they had theyshould be ashamed of their desires. And
my first reaction was, all,that's really backwards. But then the more
that I thought about it, themore that I saw how much we had
in common just in terms of youknow, the attitudes of what we were
(04:15):
raised in to believe about, youknow, our desires and to be ashamed
of them. And it's it wasthis sort of like critical turning point for
me because it made me reflect backon my relationship in ways that I hadn't
before and recognized the s guilt thatI had and I started asking, well,
where did this s guilt come from? This guy took advantage of me,
and so I ultimately decided I wantedto tell a story looking at my
(04:39):
experiences and said it in this worldthat is you know, specific, but
really reflects our own world. Ilove. I mean, let me choose
my words carefully. I really appreciatethat this comes from, in a sense
a personal place for you. Ithink it always makes are better, you
(05:00):
know, um or more authentic.I should say, Uh, Jem,
you know, is there a pieceof you in her? Well? Yeah,
for sure. I think there's apiece of me in all of the
characters, um, you know fromI mean there's a piece of me and
oh and there's a piece of meand her dad. There's a piece of
(05:21):
me and her mom. It's um, everything like pulls from personal in some
way. Um. I think Jemis very reactive and uh, impulsive and
and like you know her, shedoesn't really think about her actions until and
(05:42):
until they like kind of bite herin the butt. And that's not too
far off from who I sometimes.Um, And so yeah, I mean
it's that's just how it goes.I think, how do you you know,
as you're fleshing out the story,in my opinion, you were very
respectful. I'm a recovery. I'mwhat I joke is recovering Catholic. I
(06:08):
went to Catholic school for twelve yearsand um, and that has you know,
lovingly, I referred to it asin recovery. Um, it's very
easy, especially you know, likein my situation, for instance, it's
very easy for me to find thingsto attack about what I didn't like about
it. You in this film,you're very respectful about the faith and um,
(06:35):
and I found that very interesting becauseit's very it's easy, I think,
Um, I think in many waysit's easier to kind of go for
the jugular and in how this couldbe perceived in black and white as wrong
and you know, why are youpushing people to do that or whatever?
You really, in my opinion,shows not to like show judgment. Um.
(06:58):
Was that a conscious decision for youor did that just kind of come
naturally as the story was unfolding.It was definitely a conscious decision. Um,
you know, I think we Yeah, we wanted to come from a
place of compassion, and I justthink it's more interesting storytelling quite honestly to
you know, I wanted the audienceto be invested in these characters and in
(07:21):
their stories and understand where they're comingfrom, and not be watching judgmentally from
afar. Um. You know,they they're they're human beings who love their
families, and Um, there's somethingthat I find also. I just I
really admire faith, and I thinkthere's a lot that's really beautiful about tight
knit communities, and we wanted youknow, you get the oppression we've seen
(07:45):
that, we know that, Um, but I wanted to show another side
as well. Um. And youknow, also, I would just say
that the film it's not like doesn'tblaspheme God, it's it's it's really look
it's offering like a more complex lookat religion and faith and suggesting maybe even
that there are many ways to connectwith God, like maybe God lives in
(08:07):
gems, desires and our actions.Um. And yeah, I just I
don't know, personally, I justthink that's more interesting to watch too.
And um, yeah, I lovethat. And you know it is reflective
in my opinion of life. Youknow. Um, I have worked very
hard to I'm a very anxiety filledperson and um and over time I've learned
(08:33):
that a lot of that is frommy black and white thinking, you know.
Um and uh. And life isnot black and white, you know,
would you say, everyone, welive in it. We live in
a world right now that's like there'sno nuance in anything, right yeah.
Yeah, And you know, it'staken me a lot of work to to
(08:54):
live in the gray. Um.And to know that if I get on
that plane, you know, there'sit may drop out of the sky for
some reason. Um. But butwhich is that You'll be fine? Exactly
exactly and um and you know,but that anxious feeling in the back of
your mind is like, oh mygod, we just hit turbulence. It's
(09:16):
going to be the first plane inthe world to just fall out of the
sky, you know. And uhAnd but I had to learn that,
you know what, maybe eight millionthings went wrong with that plane and it
falls out of the sky and becomesthe first plane in the world to just
drop for no reason. Um,but that is living in the gray,
you know, to accept that,you know what, there's a point zero
(09:39):
zero zero zero zero zero one percentchance that that might happen, but you're
gonna get on that plane anyway andgo to your destination. And I say
that as kind of a represented representationof the film. I think lives in
the gray. You know, it'snot black and white. It's not a
(10:01):
here is what this is, andthis is wrong, and this is good
and this is bad and you know, this is that and this is that.
It is smartly allows the viewer tolive in that gray, you know.
And I love that about the film, Thank you. Yeah. I
mean that's really that was the cruxof every part of the filmmaking process.
(10:26):
I think, Um, you know, I didn't want to just focus on
the victimization because I think that's onlyyou know, obviously, there are many
instances of the abuse where it isvery block and white, but there are
many instances where it's more nuanced aswell and a little bit harder to see.
And I think to really understand abuse, it's important to look at those
cases too. And you know,it was really important to me that jem
(10:52):
had agency in this relationship, youknow, So it was finding the balance
of like, you know, howdo you tell a story where you feel
the main characters intoxication getting wrapped upin this romance and it's dreamy and there's
it's beautiful for her and there's it'san opening up, but at the same
time convey that, like this relationshipis problematic and inappropriate. And as a
(11:16):
director, honestly, that's like myfavorite thing to do, I do really
love exploring those moral ambiguities. Andit's just from a scene work standpoint,
it's really fun of like, youknow, starting a scene where like the
audience is sort of rooting for thesetwo characters maybe to get together, and
then by the end of the scenethey're like, oh god, wait,
why did I want that? It'slike such a type rope walk and really
(11:37):
really fun. And yeah, itwas really just like grounding the story in
her perspectives so that the audience wantswhat she wants, and so sometimes they're
going to root for the relationship,and I think that really shows how anybody
can fall into situations like this.And that's also how I like to watch
movies, like I like to constantlybe trying to figure out how I feel
(11:58):
about something, and I think audiencesfeel the same generally. Yeah, so
I do too, And I lovewhen film filmmakers give credit to the audience
that we're not always so dumb,you know, and we can kind of
get that nuance and you've you've executedit masterfully. Thank you so much,
Laurel for speaking with me. Ireally appreciate it. I can't wait for
(12:22):
everybody to see this film. Ohyou're so sweet. Thank you. As
Fay speaking with him, you aswell. Have a great day. Laurel
Parmit. She's amazing, isn't she. The film The Starling Girl is so
good and she is the writer directorfor the film. So all right.
Next up, we are going totalk with the star of the film,
(12:43):
Eliza Scanlan, who plays Jem Starlingherself. So let's get right into that.
Here it is my interview from thestudio with Eliza Scanlon. Thank you
so much, Elizah for joining me. I really appreciated. The film is
amazing. Oh thank you. It'sso nice to be here. I love
(13:03):
having you here and I love youknow. So this film is so powerful
and layered and lives in a grayarea, at least for me. What
was it like? You know,Jem is a very complex character. What
was it like to play her?I mean, it was incredible to play
(13:28):
a character like Jem. She's youknow, she is a very complex character,
and she's I think the world ofUM fundamentalism is really fascinating and I
wanted to understand it better. AndI think having that as the backdrop of
Jem's you know, journey of selfdiscovery made her a real challenge to to
(13:56):
play. And also the relationship thatshe gets into uh so nuanced and uh,
I don't know. I think it'sa real power play that relationship.
And I it was a challenge towrap my head around UM, but so
(14:16):
fulfilling to do well. And youdo it beautifully. I you know,
as I was watching, I wasthinking, like, geez, this is
so tough in regards to what Iassume would be tough for you h to
portray her. I mean just becauseit's so UM like us, I guess,
(14:37):
so complicated and complex and layered andum not easily put into boxes,
you know. And so I asI was watching that, as think of
how masterfully you you portrayed her.Oh, thank you. I mean,
I think it is it's difficult territoryand it was, you know, dangerous
(15:01):
territory to explore for Laurel, butshe did all the research to do it
in a way that wasn't mocking religion. It was complex and showed different ways
people connect with God. And alsoit's a it's about an inappropriate relationship between
an older man and a younger woman. I think when people hear that,
(15:22):
you know, they assume that it'sa story that's about abuse, and it
is, but I think it's morethan that. I think it's I think
what makes this story interesting is thatwas exploring a gray area where Jem,
the young woman in the relationship,she wields power you know, at the
same time is a victim of abuse, and both of those can be truths,
(15:43):
and I think we wanted to getthat balance right in their relationship.
And you know, we wanted itat times for Jem to have power in
the relationship and then other times forOwen two. But at the end of
the day, because they live ina patriarchal system, it's uh the woman
(16:03):
and the relationship who bears the bruntof the blame and the punishment. Um
so yeah, it's a lot umand yeah, yeah, you know,
I was talking to Laurel Um afew minutes ago and I was saying,
there, there have been you know, films that have tackled similar um,
(16:25):
similar power dynamic relationships, but nonethat have done it in this way with
this backdrop, and um, nonethat have done it so non judgmental.
Um, there's a better word forit. But you know what I'm saying,
(16:45):
you know, it very It wouldhave been very easy to be like,
you know, uh in in manyinstances of the film, Oh these
people are bad. Uh you knowthat they're making it this way, they're
you know, conducting conducing this environment. This guy is bad. You know
he should know better. And um, and it doesn't do that. It
(17:06):
doesn't do that, which I thinkis a really interesting and unique and more
authentic way to go about it,because it's not life is not black and
white, you know, we livein the gray. Yeah. Yeah,
it's so true. And I thinkif it were in hands that were maybe
a little less delicate, or ifit was you know, a Hollywood film,
(17:30):
I think it would be easier forum, it to fall these certain
characters to fall into tropes or stereotypesand uh, you know they live.
It is a patriarchal system and it'sdesigned that way, this religious community.
Um. But and you know,it's easy in the film to say that
(17:52):
because it's a patriarchal system. Allthe men in the film are villains or
they're evil, or they're corrupt.But I think Laurel wanted to say more.
I think she actually wanted to showthat even men can lose something in
a patriarchal system, and they canbe they can suffer a lot of trauma
from systems like these because they're expectedto act a certain way and you know,
(18:22):
it kind of deprives them of theiryou know, humanity, you know,
in a way and you know,different to women, but it's they
do they are affected by it.Um. So I found, like you
said that to be a much moreauthentic portrayal, more powerful. Absolutely,
(18:42):
I definitely think it's more powerful andmore authentic. Were you nervous? You
know, I'm not an actor,so I you know, that's why I'm
curious. But when you take ona role like this, you know,
when you read the script and you'relike, I want to to do jam
like and it's so I don't wantto say juicy, because that makes it
(19:03):
sound you know, but it's sorich and layered and complex. Does that
give you make you nervous or doesthat excite you or all of the above
or I think it's all of theabove. I think that the excitement is
you know, I think it's initiallyexcitement when you decide to do a film,
(19:27):
and especially a film like this,and as the day of rehearsal comes
closer, I think I get moreand more nervous. And this was definitely
one that scared me a lot.And I don't think I've ever been on
a set, you know, everysingle day in the way that I was
(19:52):
on The Starling Girl. So yeah, and I'm you know, I think
I like a good challenge. Soum yeah, gem was you know,
I guess she was like she's apretty juicy character. I will say,
um, yeah, very rich,very late. And yeah, I think
(20:12):
I learned a lot from the experienceas well. And it seems like Laurel
had fostered an environment where it wassafe to be her mm hmm. Yeah.
I think Laurel knew this story sowell. Um that I you know,
(20:33):
I just really wanted to do itjustice and to be the gem that
she imagined U and she really trustedme, and I think that that trust
allowed me to you know, runwith it. And I think we were
all there for the same reason,and it was because we loved the script
(20:53):
and we loved Laurel and you know, and I think that's the beauty of
if indie films. You you haveto be there for the right reasons.
Um. And it's a you know, a passion project for everyone. So
yeah, Laurel is a legend.Yeah, and for you you know it.
(21:15):
And again I'm not an actor,but I would imagine that it's especially
in this film, it can takeyou to some dark places as an actor.
Um. How if so, howdo you kind of disconnect from that
at the end of the day orthe end of the shoot, um,
(21:36):
to you know, to be Elizaagain and have some some not that you
know, Mum, it's kind ofI mean when I was on set,
I was on set every day andin in every scene, so I've I
think on other jobs, I findit easier to kind of leave it at
(21:56):
the door, but that one waspretty hard to I'm not the sort of
actor that you know, can't getout of character, but I think it's
more so the emotional weight of thestory. And you know where we're working
many hours in a day and youknow, very long hours and working very
(22:19):
frequently, so I, you know, I usually get home and start working
on the lines that I had forthe next day, and so my for
six weeks, I think my wholelife was jem But I kind of like
that. It sort of made me. I think it kept me open and
available every day when I was,you know, doing the scenes. But
(22:42):
I think it's easier when you havepeople like you know, Jimmy Simpson there
to crack a joke. Thank youso much. I really appreciate you speaking
with me. I can't wait foreverybody to see The Starling Girl. It
is incredible bul film. Eliza scandalinsuch a great film. The Starling Girl
(23:06):
is in theaters now go check itout. You will not regret it.
It's really thought provoking, powerful meditationon faith and you know, devout communities
and where we belong in them andwhere they belong in society. So definitely
one you want to check out,all right, And the talent is coming
(23:30):
down the Red carpet in Chicago hereat AMC Theaters and it is all for
About My Father. The film isso funny and its heartfelt and I literally
laughed and I cried, and it'sjust a film you really want to see.
Keep it locked right here and we'llcontinue with the coverage of About My
(23:53):
Father. Okay, First up,Anders Home, who plays Lucky in the
film. He has in a hystericalpart. He's really really a great part
of this film. He plays LuckyCollins. You may know Anders as Anders
(24:15):
from Workaholics. He was a cocreator and h and writer and producer and
of course star in Workaholics, oneof the great workplace comedy series. So
here he comes up city again.So first of all, we're at the
(24:37):
premiere in Chicago. It's so crazyhere I can barely hear you. So,
you know, what's it feel likeafter you've worked on this project and
then now you're here showing it tothe public. You're here with Sebastian and
Salvo and you know de Niro.No, it's very cool, it's very
rewarding. You know, you workon these movies, you do these long
(24:57):
hours. It's a fun job.Sometimes it can be hard, sometimes it
can be frustrating, But then toget back with everybody a year later,
it's kind of like a reunion.You get to go out for dinner and
all that kind of stuff. AndI can't wait to get in there and
see the movie, which I haven'tseen yet. Oh. I can't wait
to see how great everybody is.Yeah. Yeah, And finally, Lucky,
(25:18):
do you know what did you basethis off of? Anybody you knew
in college? Journeys like Lucky's.He's somewhere deep down inside of me just
waiting to get out, and I'mjust like suppressing him because nobody wants to
deal with that. I love it, man, Thank you so much.
Congratulations as well. Alright, nextup we have Laura Tarusso. She is
(25:42):
the director of About My Father.She you may know her. She's directed
four feature films. She did anepisode of Dickinson on Apple TV Plus,
and she is hysterical and she's anawesome person. She is up now next,
let's talk to her. But seeingyou a good First of all,
(26:04):
congratulations, this is so awesome.Uh, you're here in Chicago for the
premiere Sebastian's hometown with his father afteryou know, over a year's worth of
work. What is that? Whatis that moment? Like for you.
It's unbelievable. I mean, it'sa huge, huge release. It's it's
joyful, it's exciting. I mean, I can't wait to hug our entire
(26:26):
cast. There's some people I haven'tseen and so yeah, it's this is
just such a huge celebratory moment.That's awesome. I'm so excited for you.
I'm so happy for everybody to seethis. As I told you,
I love the film and I can'twait till everybody sees it. Thank you,
very nice to meeting you again.All Right, Laura Tarusso, she's
(26:48):
such an awesome person and I'm sohappy for her in this moment. You
know where she Here's this film thatshe has worked so hard on and it
is now the premiere in Chicago,you know, Sebastian's own hometown as Families
here and just an awesome moment.Okay, it looks like coming up next
(27:08):
on the carpet is David Rash lovehim and he has a fan standing out
here signaling for me to acknowledge themwhen he gets here, So I'm gonna
be doing that. Of course,you may know him from as Carl on
Secessions. Such a good show andof course he u sledgehammer, I mean,
(27:33):
veep ugly. Betty's just an awesome, awesome actor and he's hysterically funny.
I talked with him in our sitdown interviews, which you'll hear next
episode. But here he is Davidrash, Hey, good seeing. How
are you so? First of all, you have fans that are you're here.
(27:56):
It's been a year and a halfor so since you, you know,
work really now we're in Chicago,Sebastian's you know, hometown with his
father. But what does that meanfor you to be a part of something
that that really is a familial uhkind of event? Absolutely nothing, I
have nope, I have nope.I don't relate to it at all.
Uh well, you know we wewere really a part of that. He
(28:19):
just really to tell you the truth, I mean that whole sort of side
of it was Bob, you know, in Sebastian and Austin and uh,
you know we heard things. Imean, I know, I mean he
you know, he he spent timewith his dad Narrow. He did just
tons and tons and tons of research. So yeah, it was it was,
(28:41):
it was it was so much funto do. I can't tell you
and what about for for your onscreen family with Kim and the kids,
and did you was that kind ofI just could. It was just hard
to keep control of them because they'reso screwed up. Where is there anything
any part of Bill in you?Did you? Did you have to find?
(29:02):
Well? You know, my momused to say a lot of this
stuff that I say. She'd alwayssay, all right, thank you,
thank you for that. All right, let's not thank you, you know,
so some comes from my home.Thank you so much. Congratulations,
thank you, thank you you aswell. David rash live in Chicago at
AMC Theaters in Chicago. That's whereChicago is. I don't even know what
(29:29):
I'm saying at this point. There'sso much going on. It's a great
time here for the premiere of AboutMy Father. Next up on the Carpet
or she's coming up, coming upnext, Kim Cattrall. She is,
I mean what, She's won fiveEmmy NA, gotten four Emmy Nam's four
Golden Globe Awards for Sex in theCity, she won a Golden Globe for
(29:53):
Best Supporting Actress, and geez,I mean she started all the way back
in seventy five for Rosebud. Sheis awesome. She is hysterically funny as
a tigger in this film. Um, and uh it's it's I can't I
don't want to know spoilers, butgo see about my father. Let's talk
(30:15):
with Kim Control. Thank you somuch for speaking with me. Uh,
So we're here. It's been ayear and a half, you know that
of work, and um, we'rein Chicago with Sebastian and his dad.
You know, Uh what does thatlike to be a part of that where
(30:37):
you know, it's really like afamily. I feel like event you know
what I mean, Yeah, itis. I mean this we had a
lot of obstacles with this time shotduring a pandemic in Mobile, Alabama and
rainy season and thunderstorms, and therewas a lot to contend with. So
the fact that we're here tonight isa minor miracle really, because during COVID
(31:00):
the film was very expensive and ifsomebody was out sickwise you could just shut
down for a period of time.Luckily that didn't happen with us, but
I think it brought us closer together, and so I think that shows in
the film. That's awesome. Andthen for a you know, once the
film's premiering. Do you feel likea sense of relief at that point or
(31:25):
like, how does that work?Or once it's wrapped, are you fine?
Well? I think once you're wrapped, and then you do adr just
if anything is not you can't hearit, it needs to be done again,
and then you do press and thenthe movie it's like wearing a child.
It finds its way in the worldand finds its own family. And
(31:45):
some films that have done have notdone well immediately, but they become hits
later on. So you just neveryou never know what's gonna happen. Yeah,
this is good. I love thefilm. I can't wait for everybody
to see About my Father. Thankyou so much. The One and Only
Kim cuts froll love love love loveher. Uh she is, like I
(32:07):
said, she's hysterical as Tigger.And about my father. Just the whole
cast in this film, I'm serious, the whole cast and about my father
is just they work so well together. I feel like they're a real family.
I feel like it's a real situation. Um, it's it's a great
film. Next up, I seethe One and Only Robert de Niro that
(32:31):
this man needs no introduction. He'sRobert freaking DeNiro. Let's talk to him
for a second. We're you're here. It was a year and a half
work worth of work, you know. Uh with Salvo, what is that?
What is that moment like for youto be here in Chicago playing him
with him watching the premiere. Uh, it's great, you know, I'm
(32:53):
very happy to be here. Um, I'm happy for them. Can you
do such a great job with it, Sarah, thank you so much.
Thank you. Robert de Niro.Oh my god, I can't. This
is the second time I've interviewed Robertde Niro in the last twenty four hours.
(33:15):
I did my sit down interviews withhim at the hotel, and just
a legend. I can't, guys, I can't believe that I've just interviewed
Robert de Niro twice. That's insane, all right. And now upcoming on
the you're coming up on the redcarpet is the man of the hour,
Sebastian Maniscalco. He is hysterically funnyanyway, and in this film, which
(33:39):
is based you know, partly onhis real life, on his real father
and his relationship with his father.Uh, sal Salvatore. Um, he
is just, oh my God.This it's such a good, feel good,
hysterically funny film and I can't waitto talk to you about it.
(34:00):
But let's talk with the one andonly Sebastian Maniscalco. Good seeing you again.
First of all, thank you forthis, and I kind of touched
on it earlier. I was sopleasantly surprised at how touching the film is.
I lost my mom two years ago, and thank you. And so
(34:22):
as I'm watching this, you know, I don't know what I was expecting,
but it was so heartfelt. Youknow, I think, I think
so many people will be able torelate to that special relationship with the parent,
and it really comes through. Howdoes it feel for you to be
here in Chicago, in your hometownwith your dad, with your family,
(34:43):
your your wife, I mean,Robert de Niro playing your dad, Like,
is this a surreal moment for you? It's, uh, this is
pretty damn special. You know.Uh, it's so nice to you know,
you talk about losing your mother.So nice to share this with my
parents. You know, I'm fiftyyears old in July. I still got
my parents. You know, alot of people don't have their parents.
(35:04):
So I'm so glad and grateful thatthey're here walking the red carpet. You
know, my wife has been likemy rock throughout, you know, the
last fifteen years of my career.It's hard to be married to me.
You know, I'm I've always inand out of town and whatnot. So
she's really really a special woman.And just to bring this back home,
man, I used to come downto Chicago with my buddies. Some of
(35:27):
them are here tonight, clubbing andwhatnot. And now we're here walking the
red carpet and they're here tonight.We're gonna reconnect and you know, they're
gonna rip my outfit to shreds andwhat are you wearing white for? But
it's all in good fun. Youknow. It's just how I grew up.
And nobody takes offense to it,you know, living in a day
(35:49):
and age where you know, everybody'sall bent out of shape because someone said
this, someone said that, youcome home and it's just refreshing to get
your you know, just ripped toshreds. It's not it feels good if
there's no there's no you don't geta big head in my group, you
know, right right, So that'sawesome. Thank you, so much.
You gotta if it just waived.This is the Italian Uh. They've been
(36:10):
like smothering me the entire time we'vebeen here. You look great picture,
half picture hal blah blah blah.So they're all thank you, sir,
thank you, thank you, SebsterMeniscalco. I guys, this is it's
(36:36):
such a great time here. I'mgonna go in and catch the Chicago premiere
of About My Father. Let meknow what you think on socials, Let's
chat and um and you'll be gettingvery very soon my sit down interviews with
the cast of About my Father.I will see you next time. I
(36:57):
love you, We out. Thankyou for listening to Culture Weekly. Here
all the latest at pop culture weeklydot com.
On this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, I am live in Chicago for the
premiere of About My Father and Italked to the cast on the red carpet,
including Robert de Niro and Sebastian Manascalco. And then I'm in the studio
talking to Eliza Scanlon, who starsin The Starling Girl and writer director Laura
Paramit talks all about The Starling Girl. Let's go Welcome to pop Culture Weekly
(00:25):
with Kyle McMahon from my Heart Radio. You are pop culture news, views,
reviews and celebrity interviews on all themovies, TV music and pop culture
UKRABE Weekly. Here's Kyle McMahon.All right, I'm so excited. I
am here live in Chicago for thepremiere of About My Father's starring Sebastian Manascalco
(00:53):
and Robert de Niro and give Controland at mean, it's just an amazing
cast. Can't wait to see thefilm again. I saw it already and
it is hysterical and sweet and funny, obviously hysterically funny. It's just I
can't say enough about this movie.It is really really good and it's one
(01:15):
you gotta see. So we're gonnahave some interviews with some of the film's
stars coming up. But first letme tell you about this film that I
saw called The Starling Girl. Itis an amazing film. It's from writer
director Laurel Palmit, and it's aboutthis girl, seventeen year old girl Jim,
(01:38):
who kind of struggles to find herplace in this fundamentalist Christian community.
It takes place in you know,rural Kentucky, and she's a big dancer
with the church group and then shestarts to struggle with what she you know,
(01:59):
wonders maybe sin and and her ownsexuality and if she's devoted enough to
religion, her religion. It's really, really, really an amazing film.
It stars Eliza Scanlon as Jem Starling, who does an incredible, incredible job
(02:21):
in this role as Jem. Itreally is an amazing film that you've got
to see. So let's start outwith the interviews from that. Let's talk
to writer director Laul Parmett first.Up here we go. So the film
is incredibly powerful and I love Ithink it's coming out an interesting time.
(02:44):
In my opinion, there seems tobe in a lot of ways a kind
of reckoning for um for so manyrelationships that have uneven power dynamics, you
know, kind of starting thankfully withthe me too movement, kind of bringing
to light you know, a lotof abusive power dynamics and uh and churches
(03:09):
and on and on. What drewyou to this story? You know,
why was it important for you totell? So? Um? Yeah,
I have a personal connection to thestory. Um. When I was a
teenager, I had a relationship orwhatever, I don't know what to call
(03:30):
it, uh with an older manand um, you know, didn't see
myself as a victim at the time, and um, so then I was.
I found myself a few years laterin a Christian fundamentalist church with a
group of women from a patriarchal churchdoing research for a different project, and
(03:51):
I learned about their beliefs. Youknow. I learned that they believed that
it was a woman's responsibility to notlead a man into temptation, and basically
that you know, they had theyshould be ashamed of their desires. And
my first reaction was, all,that's really backwards. But then the more
that I thought about it, themore that I saw how much we had
in common just in terms of youknow, the attitudes of what we were
(04:15):
raised in to believe about, youknow, our desires and to be ashamed
of them. And it's it wasthis sort of like critical turning point for
me because it made me reflect backon my relationship in ways that I hadn't
before and recognized the s guilt thatI had and I started asking, well,
where did this s guilt come from? This guy took advantage of me,
and so I ultimately decided I wantedto tell a story looking at my
(04:39):
experiences and said it in this worldthat is you know, specific, but
really reflects our own world. Ilove. I mean, let me choose
my words carefully. I really appreciatethat this comes from, in a sense
a personal place for you. Ithink it always makes are better, you
(05:00):
know, um or more authentic.I should say, Uh, Jem,
you know, is there a pieceof you in her? Well? Yeah,
for sure. I think there's apiece of me in all of the
characters, um, you know fromI mean there's a piece of me and
oh and there's a piece of meand her dad. There's a piece of
(05:21):
me and her mom. It's um, everything like pulls from personal in some
way. Um. I think Jemis very reactive and uh, impulsive and
and like you know her, shedoesn't really think about her actions until and
(05:42):
until they like kind of bite herin the butt. And that's not too
far off from who I sometimes.Um, And so yeah, I mean
it's that's just how it goes.I think, how do you you know,
as you're fleshing out the story,in my opinion, you were very
respectful. I'm a recovery. I'mwhat I joke is recovering Catholic. I
(06:08):
went to Catholic school for twelve yearsand um, and that has you know,
lovingly, I referred to it asin recovery. Um, it's very
easy, especially you know, likein my situation, for instance, it's
very easy for me to find thingsto attack about what I didn't like about
it. You in this film,you're very respectful about the faith and um,
(06:35):
and I found that very interesting becauseit's very it's easy, I think,
Um, I think in many waysit's easier to kind of go for
the jugular and in how this couldbe perceived in black and white as wrong
and you know, why are youpushing people to do that or whatever?
You really, in my opinion,shows not to like show judgment. Um.
(06:58):
Was that a conscious decision for youor did that just kind of come
naturally as the story was unfolding.It was definitely a conscious decision. Um,
you know, I think we Yeah, we wanted to come from a
place of compassion, and I justthink it's more interesting storytelling quite honestly to
you know, I wanted the audienceto be invested in these characters and in
(07:21):
their stories and understand where they're comingfrom, and not be watching judgmentally from
afar. Um. You know,they they're they're human beings who love their
families, and Um, there's somethingthat I find also. I just I
really admire faith, and I thinkthere's a lot that's really beautiful about tight
knit communities, and we wanted youknow, you get the oppression we've seen
(07:45):
that, we know that, Um, but I wanted to show another side
as well. Um. And youknow, also, I would just say
that the film it's not like doesn'tblaspheme God, it's it's it's really look
it's offering like a more complex lookat religion and faith and suggesting maybe even
that there are many ways to connectwith God, like maybe God lives in
(08:07):
gems, desires and our actions.Um. And yeah, I just I
don't know, personally, I justthink that's more interesting to watch too.
And um, yeah, I lovethat. And you know it is reflective
in my opinion of life. Youknow. Um, I have worked very
hard to I'm a very anxiety filledperson and um and over time I've learned
(08:33):
that a lot of that is frommy black and white thinking, you know.
Um and uh. And life isnot black and white, you know,
would you say, everyone, welive in it. We live in
a world right now that's like there'sno nuance in anything, right yeah.
Yeah, And you know, it'staken me a lot of work to to
(08:54):
live in the gray. Um.And to know that if I get on
that plane, you know, there'sit may drop out of the sky for
some reason. Um. But butwhich is that You'll be fine? Exactly
exactly and um and you know,but that anxious feeling in the back of
your mind is like, oh mygod, we just hit turbulence. It's
(09:16):
going to be the first plane inthe world to just fall out of the
sky, you know. And uhAnd but I had to learn that,
you know what, maybe eight millionthings went wrong with that plane and it
falls out of the sky and becomesthe first plane in the world to just
drop for no reason. Um,but that is living in the gray,
you know, to accept that,you know what, there's a point zero
(09:39):
zero zero zero zero zero one percentchance that that might happen, but you're
gonna get on that plane anyway andgo to your destination. And I say
that as kind of a represented representationof the film. I think lives in
the gray. You know, it'snot black and white. It's not a
(10:01):
here is what this is, andthis is wrong, and this is good
and this is bad and you know, this is that and this is that.
It is smartly allows the viewer tolive in that gray, you know.
And I love that about the film, Thank you. Yeah. I
mean that's really that was the cruxof every part of the filmmaking process.
(10:26):
I think, Um, you know, I didn't want to just focus on
the victimization because I think that's onlyyou know, obviously, there are many
instances of the abuse where it isvery block and white, but there are
many instances where it's more nuanced aswell and a little bit harder to see.
And I think to really understand abuse, it's important to look at those
cases too. And you know,it was really important to me that jem
(10:52):
had agency in this relationship, youknow, So it was finding the balance
of like, you know, howdo you tell a story where you feel
the main characters intoxication getting wrapped upin this romance and it's dreamy and there's
it's beautiful for her and there's it'san opening up, but at the same
time convey that, like this relationshipis problematic and inappropriate. And as a
(11:16):
director, honestly, that's like myfavorite thing to do, I do really
love exploring those moral ambiguities. Andit's just from a scene work standpoint,
it's really fun of like, youknow, starting a scene where like the
audience is sort of rooting for thesetwo characters maybe to get together, and
then by the end of the scenethey're like, oh god, wait,
why did I want that? It'slike such a type rope walk and really
(11:37):
really fun. And yeah, itwas really just like grounding the story in
her perspectives so that the audience wantswhat she wants, and so sometimes they're
going to root for the relationship,and I think that really shows how anybody
can fall into situations like this.And that's also how I like to watch
movies, like I like to constantlybe trying to figure out how I feel
(11:58):
about something, and I think audiencesfeel the same generally. Yeah, so
I do too, And I lovewhen film filmmakers give credit to the audience
that we're not always so dumb,you know, and we can kind of
get that nuance and you've you've executedit masterfully. Thank you so much,
Laurel for speaking with me. Ireally appreciate it. I can't wait for
(12:22):
everybody to see this film. Ohyou're so sweet. Thank you. As
Fay speaking with him, you aswell. Have a great day. Laurel
Parmit. She's amazing, isn't she. The film The Starling Girl is so
good and she is the writer directorfor the film. So all right.
Next up, we are going totalk with the star of the film,
(12:43):
Eliza Scanlan, who plays Jem Starlingherself. So let's get right into that.
Here it is my interview from thestudio with Eliza Scanlon. Thank you
so much, Elizah for joining me. I really appreciated. The film is
amazing. Oh thank you. It'sso nice to be here. I love
(13:03):
having you here and I love youknow. So this film is so powerful
and layered and lives in a grayarea, at least for me. What
was it like? You know,Jem is a very complex character. What
was it like to play her?I mean, it was incredible to play
(13:28):
a character like Jem. She's youknow, she is a very complex character,
and she's I think the world ofUM fundamentalism is really fascinating and I
wanted to understand it better. AndI think having that as the backdrop of
Jem's you know, journey of selfdiscovery made her a real challenge to to
(13:56):
play. And also the relationship thatshe gets into uh so nuanced and uh,
I don't know. I think it'sa real power play that relationship.
And I it was a challenge towrap my head around UM, but so
(14:16):
fulfilling to do well. And youdo it beautifully. I you know,
as I was watching, I wasthinking, like, geez, this is
so tough in regards to what Iassume would be tough for you h to
portray her. I mean just becauseit's so UM like us, I guess,
(14:37):
so complicated and complex and layered andum not easily put into boxes,
you know. And so I asI was watching that, as think of
how masterfully you you portrayed her.Oh, thank you. I mean,
I think it is it's difficult territoryand it was, you know, dangerous
(15:01):
territory to explore for Laurel, butshe did all the research to do it
in a way that wasn't mocking religion. It was complex and showed different ways
people connect with God. And alsoit's a it's about an inappropriate relationship between
an older man and a younger woman. I think when people hear that,
(15:22):
you know, they assume that it'sa story that's about abuse, and it
is, but I think it's morethan that. I think it's I think
what makes this story interesting is thatwas exploring a gray area where Jem,
the young woman in the relationship,she wields power you know, at the
same time is a victim of abuse, and both of those can be truths,
(15:43):
and I think we wanted to getthat balance right in their relationship.
And you know, we wanted itat times for Jem to have power in
the relationship and then other times forOwen two. But at the end of
the day, because they live ina patriarchal system, it's uh the woman
(16:03):
and the relationship who bears the bruntof the blame and the punishment. Um
so yeah, it's a lot umand yeah, yeah, you know,
I was talking to Laurel Um afew minutes ago and I was saying,
there, there have been you know, films that have tackled similar um,
(16:25):
similar power dynamic relationships, but nonethat have done it in this way with
this backdrop, and um, nonethat have done it so non judgmental.
Um, there's a better word forit. But you know what I'm saying,
(16:45):
you know, it very It wouldhave been very easy to be like,
you know, uh in in manyinstances of the film, Oh these
people are bad. Uh you knowthat they're making it this way, they're
you know, conducting conducing this environment. This guy is bad. You know
he should know better. And um, and it doesn't do that. It
(17:06):
doesn't do that, which I thinkis a really interesting and unique and more
authentic way to go about it,because it's not life is not black and
white, you know, we livein the gray. Yeah. Yeah,
it's so true. And I thinkif it were in hands that were maybe
a little less delicate, or ifit was you know, a Hollywood film,
(17:30):
I think it would be easier forum, it to fall these certain
characters to fall into tropes or stereotypesand uh, you know they live.
It is a patriarchal system and it'sdesigned that way, this religious community.
Um. But and you know,it's easy in the film to say that
(17:52):
because it's a patriarchal system. Allthe men in the film are villains or
they're evil, or they're corrupt.But I think Laurel wanted to say more.
I think she actually wanted to showthat even men can lose something in
a patriarchal system, and they canbe they can suffer a lot of trauma
from systems like these because they're expectedto act a certain way and you know,
(18:22):
it kind of deprives them of theiryou know, humanity, you know,
in a way and you know,different to women, but it's they
do they are affected by it.Um. So I found, like you
said that to be a much moreauthentic portrayal, more powerful. Absolutely,
(18:42):
I definitely think it's more powerful andmore authentic. Were you nervous? You
know, I'm not an actor,so I you know, that's why I'm
curious. But when you take ona role like this, you know,
when you read the script and you'relike, I want to to do jam
like and it's so I don't wantto say juicy, because that makes it
(19:03):
sound you know, but it's sorich and layered and complex. Does that
give you make you nervous or doesthat excite you or all of the above
or I think it's all of theabove. I think that the excitement is
you know, I think it's initiallyexcitement when you decide to do a film,
(19:27):
and especially a film like this,and as the day of rehearsal comes
closer, I think I get moreand more nervous. And this was definitely
one that scared me a lot.And I don't think I've ever been on
a set, you know, everysingle day in the way that I was
(19:52):
on The Starling Girl. So yeah, and I'm you know, I think
I like a good challenge. Soum yeah, gem was you know,
I guess she was like she's apretty juicy character. I will say,
um, yeah, very rich,very late. And yeah, I think
(20:12):
I learned a lot from the experienceas well. And it seems like Laurel
had fostered an environment where it wassafe to be her mm hmm. Yeah.
I think Laurel knew this story sowell. Um that I you know,
(20:33):
I just really wanted to do itjustice and to be the gem that
she imagined U and she really trustedme, and I think that that trust
allowed me to you know, runwith it. And I think we were
all there for the same reason,and it was because we loved the script
(20:53):
and we loved Laurel and you know, and I think that's the beauty of
if indie films. You you haveto be there for the right reasons.
Um. And it's a you know, a passion project for everyone. So
yeah, Laurel is a legend.Yeah, and for you you know it.
(21:15):
And again I'm not an actor,but I would imagine that it's especially
in this film, it can takeyou to some dark places as an actor.
Um. How if so, howdo you kind of disconnect from that
at the end of the day orthe end of the shoot, um,
(21:36):
to you know, to be Elizaagain and have some some not that you
know, Mum, it's kind ofI mean when I was on set,
I was on set every day andin in every scene, so I've I
think on other jobs, I findit easier to kind of leave it at
(21:56):
the door, but that one waspretty hard to I'm not the sort of
actor that you know, can't getout of character, but I think it's
more so the emotional weight of thestory. And you know where we're working
many hours in a day and youknow, very long hours and working very
(22:19):
frequently, so I, you know, I usually get home and start working
on the lines that I had forthe next day, and so my for
six weeks, I think my wholelife was jem But I kind of like
that. It sort of made me. I think it kept me open and
available every day when I was,you know, doing the scenes. But
(22:42):
I think it's easier when you havepeople like you know, Jimmy Simpson there
to crack a joke. Thank youso much. I really appreciate you speaking
with me. I can't wait foreverybody to see The Starling Girl. It
is incredible bul film. Eliza scandalinsuch a great film. The Starling Girl
(23:06):
is in theaters now go check itout. You will not regret it.
It's really thought provoking, powerful meditationon faith and you know, devout communities
and where we belong in them andwhere they belong in society. So definitely
one you want to check out,all right, And the talent is coming
(23:30):
down the Red carpet in Chicago hereat AMC Theaters and it is all for
About My Father. The film isso funny and its heartfelt and I literally
laughed and I cried, and it'sjust a film you really want to see.
Keep it locked right here and we'llcontinue with the coverage of About My
(23:53):
Father. Okay, First up,Anders Home, who plays Lucky in the
film. He has in a hystericalpart. He's really really a great part
of this film. He plays LuckyCollins. You may know Anders as Anders
(24:15):
from Workaholics. He was a cocreator and h and writer and producer and
of course star in Workaholics, oneof the great workplace comedy series. So
here he comes up city again.So first of all, we're at the
(24:37):
premiere in Chicago. It's so crazyhere I can barely hear you. So,
you know, what's it feel likeafter you've worked on this project and
then now you're here showing it tothe public. You're here with Sebastian and
Salvo and you know de Niro.No, it's very cool, it's very
rewarding. You know, you workon these movies, you do these long
(24:57):
hours. It's a fun job.Sometimes it can be hard, sometimes it
can be frustrating, But then toget back with everybody a year later,
it's kind of like a reunion.You get to go out for dinner and
all that kind of stuff. AndI can't wait to get in there and
see the movie, which I haven'tseen yet. Oh. I can't wait
to see how great everybody is.Yeah. Yeah, And finally, Lucky,
(25:18):
do you know what did you basethis off of? Anybody you knew
in college? Journeys like Lucky's.He's somewhere deep down inside of me just
waiting to get out, and I'mjust like suppressing him because nobody wants to
deal with that. I love it, man, Thank you so much.
Congratulations as well. Alright, nextup we have Laura Tarusso. She is
(25:42):
the director of About My Father.She you may know her. She's directed
four feature films. She did anepisode of Dickinson on Apple TV Plus,
and she is hysterical and she's anawesome person. She is up now next,
let's talk to her. But seeingyou a good First of all,
(26:04):
congratulations, this is so awesome.Uh, you're here in Chicago for the
premiere Sebastian's hometown with his father afteryou know, over a year's worth of
work. What is that? Whatis that moment? Like for you.
It's unbelievable. I mean, it'sa huge, huge release. It's it's
joyful, it's exciting. I mean, I can't wait to hug our entire
(26:26):
cast. There's some people I haven'tseen and so yeah, it's this is
just such a huge celebratory moment.That's awesome. I'm so excited for you.
I'm so happy for everybody to seethis. As I told you,
I love the film and I can'twait till everybody sees it. Thank you,
very nice to meeting you again.All Right, Laura Tarusso, she's
(26:48):
such an awesome person and I'm sohappy for her in this moment. You
know where she Here's this film thatshe has worked so hard on and it
is now the premiere in Chicago,you know, Sebastian's own hometown as Families
here and just an awesome moment.Okay, it looks like coming up next
(27:08):
on the carpet is David Rash lovehim and he has a fan standing out
here signaling for me to acknowledge themwhen he gets here, So I'm gonna
be doing that. Of course,you may know him from as Carl on
Secessions. Such a good show andof course he u sledgehammer, I mean,
(27:33):
veep ugly. Betty's just an awesome, awesome actor and he's hysterically funny.
I talked with him in our sitdown interviews, which you'll hear next
episode. But here he is Davidrash, Hey, good seeing. How
are you so? First of all, you have fans that are you're here.
(27:56):
It's been a year and a halfor so since you, you know,
work really now we're in Chicago,Sebastian's you know, hometown with his
father. But what does that meanfor you to be a part of something
that that really is a familial uhkind of event? Absolutely nothing, I
have nope, I have nope.I don't relate to it at all.
Uh well, you know we wewere really a part of that. He
(28:19):
just really to tell you the truth, I mean that whole sort of side
of it was Bob, you know, in Sebastian and Austin and uh,
you know we heard things. Imean, I know, I mean he
you know, he he spent timewith his dad Narrow. He did just
tons and tons and tons of research. So yeah, it was it was,
(28:41):
it was it was so much funto do. I can't tell you
and what about for for your onscreen family with Kim and the kids,
and did you was that kind ofI just could. It was just hard
to keep control of them because they'reso screwed up. Where is there anything
any part of Bill in you?Did you? Did you have to find?
(29:02):
Well? You know, my momused to say a lot of this
stuff that I say. She'd alwayssay, all right, thank you,
thank you for that. All right, let's not thank you, you know,
so some comes from my home.Thank you so much. Congratulations,
thank you, thank you you aswell. David rash live in Chicago at
AMC Theaters in Chicago. That's whereChicago is. I don't even know what
(29:29):
I'm saying at this point. There'sso much going on. It's a great
time here for the premiere of AboutMy Father. Next up on the Carpet
or she's coming up, coming upnext, Kim Cattrall. She is,
I mean what, She's won fiveEmmy NA, gotten four Emmy Nam's four
Golden Globe Awards for Sex in theCity, she won a Golden Globe for
(29:53):
Best Supporting Actress, and geez,I mean she started all the way back
in seventy five for Rosebud. Sheis awesome. She is hysterically funny as
a tigger in this film. Um, and uh it's it's I can't I
don't want to know spoilers, butgo see about my father. Let's talk
(30:15):
with Kim Control. Thank you somuch for speaking with me. Uh,
So we're here. It's been ayear and a half, you know that
of work, and um, we'rein Chicago with Sebastian and his dad.
You know, Uh what does thatlike to be a part of that where
(30:37):
you know, it's really like afamily. I feel like event you know
what I mean, Yeah, itis. I mean this we had a
lot of obstacles with this time shotduring a pandemic in Mobile, Alabama and
rainy season and thunderstorms, and therewas a lot to contend with. So
the fact that we're here tonight isa minor miracle really, because during COVID
(31:00):
the film was very expensive and ifsomebody was out sickwise you could just shut
down for a period of time.Luckily that didn't happen with us, but
I think it brought us closer together, and so I think that shows in
the film. That's awesome. Andthen for a you know, once the
film's premiering. Do you feel likea sense of relief at that point or
(31:25):
like, how does that work?Or once it's wrapped, are you fine?
Well? I think once you're wrapped, and then you do adr just
if anything is not you can't hearit, it needs to be done again,
and then you do press and thenthe movie it's like wearing a child.
It finds its way in the worldand finds its own family. And
(31:45):
some films that have done have notdone well immediately, but they become hits
later on. So you just neveryou never know what's gonna happen. Yeah,
this is good. I love thefilm. I can't wait for everybody
to see About my Father. Thankyou so much. The One and Only
Kim cuts froll love love love loveher. Uh she is, like I
(32:07):
said, she's hysterical as Tigger.And about my father. Just the whole
cast in this film, I'm serious, the whole cast and about my father
is just they work so well together. I feel like they're a real family.
I feel like it's a real situation. Um, it's it's a great
film. Next up, I seethe One and Only Robert de Niro that
(32:31):
this man needs no introduction. He'sRobert freaking DeNiro. Let's talk to him
for a second. We're you're here. It was a year and a half
work worth of work, you know. Uh with Salvo, what is that?
What is that moment like for youto be here in Chicago playing him
with him watching the premiere. Uh, it's great, you know, I'm
(32:53):
very happy to be here. Um, I'm happy for them. Can you
do such a great job with it, Sarah, thank you so much.
Thank you. Robert de Niro.Oh my god, I can't. This
is the second time I've interviewed Robertde Niro in the last twenty four hours.
(33:15):
I did my sit down interviews withhim at the hotel, and just
a legend. I can't, guys, I can't believe that I've just interviewed
Robert de Niro twice. That's insane, all right. And now upcoming on
the you're coming up on the redcarpet is the man of the hour,
Sebastian Maniscalco. He is hysterically funnyanyway, and in this film, which
(33:39):
is based you know, partly onhis real life, on his real father
and his relationship with his father.Uh, sal Salvatore. Um, he
is just, oh my God.This it's such a good, feel good,
hysterically funny film and I can't waitto talk to you about it.
(34:00):
But let's talk with the one andonly Sebastian Maniscalco. Good seeing you again.
First of all, thank you forthis, and I kind of touched
on it earlier. I was sopleasantly surprised at how touching the film is.
I lost my mom two years ago, and thank you. And so
(34:22):
as I'm watching this, you know, I don't know what I was expecting,
but it was so heartfelt. Youknow, I think, I think
so many people will be able torelate to that special relationship with the parent,
and it really comes through. Howdoes it feel for you to be
here in Chicago, in your hometownwith your dad, with your family,
(34:43):
your your wife, I mean,Robert de Niro playing your dad, Like,
is this a surreal moment for you? It's, uh, this is
pretty damn special. You know.Uh, it's so nice to you know,
you talk about losing your mother.So nice to share this with my
parents. You know, I'm fiftyyears old in July. I still got
my parents. You know, alot of people don't have their parents.
(35:04):
So I'm so glad and grateful thatthey're here walking the red carpet. You
know, my wife has been likemy rock throughout, you know, the
last fifteen years of my career.It's hard to be married to me.
You know, I'm I've always inand out of town and whatnot. So
she's really really a special woman.And just to bring this back home,
man, I used to come downto Chicago with my buddies. Some of
(35:27):
them are here tonight, clubbing andwhatnot. And now we're here walking the
red carpet and they're here tonight.We're gonna reconnect and you know, they're
gonna rip my outfit to shreds andwhat are you wearing white for? But
it's all in good fun. Youknow. It's just how I grew up.
And nobody takes offense to it,you know, living in a day
(35:49):
and age where you know, everybody'sall bent out of shape because someone said
this, someone said that, youcome home and it's just refreshing to get
your you know, just ripped toshreds. It's not it feels good if
there's no there's no you don't geta big head in my group, you
know, right right, So that'sawesome. Thank you, so much.
You gotta if it just waived.This is the Italian Uh. They've been
(36:10):
like smothering me the entire time we'vebeen here. You look great picture,
half picture hal blah blah blah.So they're all thank you, sir,
thank you, thank you, SebsterMeniscalco. I guys, this is it's
(36:36):
such a great time here. I'mgonna go in and catch the Chicago premiere
of About My Father. Let meknow what you think on socials, Let's
chat and um and you'll be gettingvery very soon my sit down interviews with
the cast of About my Father.I will see you next time. I
(36:57):
love you, We out. Thankyou for listening to Culture Weekly. Here
all the latest at pop culture weeklydot com.
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